Under the directive of the NCB Financial Group chairman, Michael Lee-Chin, the ‘Build a Better Jamaica Fund’ is already making waves and gathering immense support from both the public and private sectors, locally and from abroad.

The fund, described as ‘unique in approach’, will involve support from both government agencies and independent businesses coming together to contribute the necessary capital, which will then be reserved for restoring areas of Jamaica hardest hit by Category 4 Hurricane Beryl.

To start the fund, the National Commercial Bank announced that they would be contributing an initial
pledge of J$20 million, intending to then match dollar-for-dollar any further donations up to a
maximum of J$150 million for a grand total of J$300 million.

“We are deeply concerned for our fellow Jamaicans who have suffered emotional and financial loss due
to this hurricane,” said Lee-Chin. “This fun is an opportunity…to help restore normalcy to their lives and
communities. I therefore call on our customers, other corporate entities, the general public and the
diaspora to support the initiative so we can double your donation. For every dollar you give, NCB will
match it.”

Already, individuals and organizations both in Jamaica and abroad are answering the call.

At a meeting inside NCB’s Atrium headquarters in New Kingston on Tuesday (July 9), signees endorsed the Build a Better Jamaica fund.

These partners can be divided into two distinct categories, ‘donors’ and ‘executive’, though there are some individuals in both.

Donors are entities overseas that use their vast network through the diaspora to send monetary aid.

Food for the Poor Jamaica and WISYNCO are both donors and executive partners, under the directive of Andrew Mahfood. Mahfood expressed his sympathy to those in Jamaica’s southern parishes, and that his
organisations were more than happy to join NCB’s effort to provide support.

Since the passage of Beryl last Wednesday, Food for the Poor has provided water, hygiene kits, tarpaulin, and blankets to those in the most devastated areas. It has also closely collaborated with the Red Cross, Salvation Army, the National Healthcare Enhancement Foundation tied to the Ministry of Health, and finally the Office of Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) to coordinate joint responses to better combat the appalling state and welfare of those that endured the worst the hurricane had to offer.

The WISYNCO Group would pledge a total of J$5 million to the Build a Better Jamaica Fund, as
Mahfood echoed the sentiments of Lee-Chin and called for corporate Jamaica to contribute for the sake of the people.

Food for the Poor’s sister organisation in Canada would also offer aid and support, moving to get
Canadians to do whatever they could and donate their own money for the people of Jamaica.

The Jamaican Stock Exchange (JSE) would also encourage social projects to raise funds, with managing
director Marlene Street Forrest pledging an additional J$1 million. Street Forrest would go on to encourage all Jamaicans to visit the Jamaica Social Stock Exchange website to donate additional funds through a safe channel where they could rest assured their donations were being put to good use.

“People want accountability and transparency when it comes to where their money goes,” noted Street Forrest. “The Jamaican Social Stock Exchange does just that.”

Foreign entities, such as the American Friends of Jamaica, would also take centre stage. The
organisation—comprised of US businesses and corporations with operations in Jamaica, part-time US residents, diplomats deployed to the island and Jamaicans living overseas—would gather US$100,000 to help in the restoration and relief efforts, half of which is being dedicated specifically to the ‘Breds Treasure Beach’ in St. Elizabeth.

In addition to the American Friends of Jamaica, the Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) also
offered its support to Lee-Chin’s fund.

Founded in the aftermath of the 2010 Haitian earthquake by Michael Capponi, GEM has worked in 60 countries, covering multiple crises from the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 to the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian in 2019.

The GEM has prided itself as being some of the first to respond to crises.

Last Friday, some 48 hours after the passage of Hurricane Beryl, Capponi’s organisation had chartered a plane which landed in Montego Bay’s Sangster International Airport, carrying with it 1,700 crates full of non-perishable foods to be distributed to the populace. GEM also sourced tarpaulin to provide shelter to those without, alongside several generators to facilitate several cookshops, and also to help people charge their mobile phones.

The Global Empowerment Mission would also move to finance and fund additional generators for both
the National Water Commission to pump and purify water, and to power the Black River Hospital, which
is lacking in backup power. GEM is also in the process of entering into a partnership with the Build a
better Jamaica Fund’, and has offered to help restore the aforementioned Breds Treasure Beach area.